Thiruvarangam ~ High Court on appointment of Jeeyar !

 

எங்கே போகிறது நம் சம்ப்ரதாயம் ? .. .. நமது ஆச்சார்ய பீடங்கள் நியமனம் எவ்வாறு நடைபெற வேண்டும் ??  நம் ஸ்ரீவைஷ்ணவ சம்பிரதாய விஷயங்களை வழிநடத்தவல்லார் யாவர் !!

Most of us go to Temples, have darshan, take part in some kainkaryams too !! – yet when we find something amiss ! – the general tendency is to move away silently – act of negligence, over-cautiousness, keeping away from difficulty, a general non-inclination to question and end up lamenting or doing nothing !! .. ..  and in this context a young individual took up the cudgels to fight, agitate before the Judicial Forum and .. .. .. a fine Judgment has come recently.  Likely you have read or heard about the judgment pronounced by the Hon’ble Justice Mr GR Swaminathan & Hon’ble Justice Dr P Murugan in WP (MD) 30431 of 2026 before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on 23.10.2026 

In our Srivaishnava Thennacharya Sampradhayam –   Mutts headed by Pontiffs known as Jeeyars have special significance.  The greatest Acarya hailed as “Yathi Rajar” was known as Thiruppavai Jeeyar and our Koil Manavala Mamunigal is hailed as Periya Jeeyar.

“கங்கையில் புனித மாய காவிரி நடுவு பாட்டு * 

பொங்குநீர் பரந்து பாயும் பூம்பொழிலரங்கம் .. .. …”

 

-           This place  surrounded by river Kaveri  is considered more sacred than the most sacred Ganges; the place that flourishes with the new waters of Kaveri has beautiful orchards and abundance of greenery.  In this Arangam is situated the greatest Temple for the Lord in reclining posture; the one who is most benevolent and most affectionate to his Bakthas – Lord Ranganatha; a mere glimpse of His Lord would ensure that the devotee would never would want to be away from this holy land.

It is a city by itself …. The glorious Thiruvarangam… 21 Gopurams – 7 prakarams …. ~reverred as ‘The Kovil’ by all Sri Vaishnavaites – it is  ‘Thiruvarangam (Srirangam)’ an island created by Coleroon [kollidam] and Kaveri.   A temple sung by 11 Azhwars [mangalasasanam], this temple occupies an area of 156 acres making it the largest temple in India.  

The temple of Sri Ranganathaswami at Srirangam boasts an historic past of great kingdom and a civilization thousands of years old. It has flourished through various dynasties though the invasion of Malik Kafur was a dark era.   Our  greatest reformer, the King of all Hermits   Swami Ramanujacharya lived here and established systems “koyil ozhugu”.  He initiated 74 of his disciples as Simhasana Adhipathis for propagating Srivaishnavism and ensuring proper administration of Sri Vaishnava temples.  

Swami Udayavar Himself resided at Srirangam and resided at the Mutt – now known as ‘Sriranga Narayana Jeeyar Mutt’ .. .. .. in the authentic chronicle ‘Kovil Olugu’ is mentioned of Islamic invasions and pillaging of Holy Thiruvarangam  - ThiruvarangaPerumal went out of holy Thiruvarangam and by  1371  Srirangam was completely cleared of its  aggressors.  The Holy Mutt known as Kura Narayana Jeeyar has had great learned matapathis.  Srimath Veda Maarga prathishtaapanaachaarya Ubhaya Vedanthachaarya Paramahamsa Parivraajakaachaarya Sri Sri Sri Koyil KongilAchAn Ranga Narayana Jeeyar Swami  was the 50th descendant of Swami Ramanujar and the last Pontiff of this great Mutt. 

After his demise, there has been no incumbent to this holy Mutt –  a few years ago, there was news of the process of application and qualifications prescribed in the website of Srirangam Thirukovil and that applications  are to be sent to the Executive Officer of the Temple and to the Board of Trustees. It was indeed – sad, pitiable and lamentable   besides a dangerous proposition as Mutts are independent –  should not be  under the control of HR&CE and more importantly HR&CE should never intervene in the religious process.  His Holiness Jeeyar is a religious post and only those well-versed in sampradhaya of that specific Mutt would be the correct people to decide who should become the Head and more importantly, a Jeeyar / Peetathipathi is not an employee of the HR&CE.

That process initiated  clearly was  religious sacrilege and hurt the sentiments of  Srivaishnavaites besides raising fear that such thing could befall on Mutts of other denominations as well.   Well, it was indeed deplorable BUT most of us did nothing – Sri Veeraraghavan Sampath was not to be cowed down like us.  

Thiruvaranga Selvanar Namperumal

Now what is posted below are excerpts of the 14 page judgment for which we must first appreciate and bow before the Petitioner – a strong willed resilient Srirangam resident Sri Veeraraghvan Sampath.  

The petitioner, S. Veeraraghavan, approached the High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).  His grievance was that the office of the Pontiff (Jeeyar) of Sri Ranganarayana Jeeyar Mutt had remained vacant for several years, resulting in the non-performance of certain traditional and religious duties connected with Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam.

          The 50th Jeeyar ascended the Peetham in 1989;  passed away in 2018; had not nominated any successor and the Mutt remained without a Jeeyar. The petitioner rightly contended that this was not simply a vacancy in the office of a religious institution. It had consequences for the religious and administrative arrangements of one of the most important Vaishnava temples.

The Additional Advocate General, appearing for the Government, initially informed the Court that steps would be taken to ensure that the Mutt had a Head within six months. The Court, however, went considerably beyond accepting this assurance. It examined the legal position, the customs of the Mutt and the precise limits of governmental authority.

The Court itself wondered whether a PIL could be entertained in a matter involving the appointment of a religious head. It relied on two earlier judgments. Apex :   Adi Saiva Sivachariyargal Nala Sangam v. State of Tamil Nadu (2016) 2 SCC 725 & Madras High Court – Ma. Gouthaman v. State of Tamil Nadu (2012 SCC OnLine Mad 4201). This judgment held that when the State fails to act in a matter of public concern, the High Court can issue appropriate directions in exercise of its jurisdiction in a PIL.

The Court next examined the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 (Tamil Nadu Act 22 of 1959) and detailed the  normal succession arrangement: If the Matathipathi  dies without nominating a successor, the vacancy must be filled according to the customs and usages of that particular Mutt. It relied on Shri Krishna Singh v. Mathura Ahir (1981) 3 SCC 689.

In the present case, the Court accepted that the established usage of Sri Ranganarayana Jeeyar Mutt places the responsibility of choosing the successor on the Sthalattars. The Court took judicial notice of the fact that Sri Ranganarayana Jeeyar Mutt has historically been an integral part of the administration of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam. It referred to an administrative manual known as Kovil Ozhugu, which sets out the traditional system of temple administration. The Court observed that Sri Ramanujacharya himself had devised an elaborate system for managing the temple, in which the Jeeyar occupies the apex position. The judgment makes several important observations about the office.

a)  The Jeeyar is not an ordinary Mutt head

b)  An ancient lineage

c)  Spiritual as well as administrative responsibilities

d) A special relationship with the deity – The Court did not consider  the Jeeyar merely as an administrator or office-holder. It recognised the religious and spiritual character of the institution and its responsibilities. The Court also notes that the absence of a Jeeyar means that traditional spiritual functions are not being discharged.

.. .. .. and the Court came down heavily on the prevailing arrangement.  The Court beautifully observed :  “Nature abhors vacuum. So does power”.-and further recorded that in the absence of Jeeyar :        Powers vested in the Jeeyar get distributed among the Sthalattars and Bhattars. They receive the honours which would otherwise have been accorded to the Jeeyar.  The status quo may suit those who presently enjoy the powers and honours, but it infringes the rights of devotees.

The Court is effectively saying that an institutional vacuum cannot be allowed to continue merely because the existing arrangement is convenient for those exercising the powers in the absence of the proper office-holder. .. legally, a devotee is entitled to insist that the administration of a temple is conducted in accordance with its settled customs and usages. 

The most important legal aspect: Can HR & CE appoint the Jeeyar? :  The Court was particularly concerned about the possibility that the HR & CE Department might itself attempt to appoint the next Jeeyar. The judgment records that the 50th Jeeyar had apparently been appointed through proceedings dated 1 December 1989, bearing reference Na.Ka.No.934/99/D1, issued by the then Executive Officer/Deputy Commissioner of the temple. The judges were concerned that the Department might repeat the same procedure now and emphatically said :  "Sorry! We won't permit you". [page 8 of the judgment] It then explains the distinction between religious and administrative functions.  Consequently, HR & CE cannot claim the right to select or appoint the Jeeyar. The Department's role is confined to formally acknowledging the choice made by the Sthalattars.

The Court makes another categorical observation:  The Jeeyar is a servant of the deity, not an employee of the temple.His position cannot be reduced to that of temple staff. So, Jeeyar does not come under the disciplinary jurisdiction of the temple trustees or a fit person merely as an employee.  His religious authority cannot be subordinated to the trustees or temple administration.

The Bench reinforces its conclusions by referring to several Supreme Court decisions.  The judgment also examines the constitutional protection available to religious institutions and their followers.  The Bench observed that the absence of a Jeeyar at Srirangam has resulted in the non-performance of traditional and customary services 

After examining the legal position, the Court allowed the writ petition and issued important directions.

a)      Joint Commissioner of HR&CE Trichy  must initiate the process and call  upon the Sthalattars to convene a meeting at the earliest.

b)     Sthalattars must take the initiative in selection;  must request eligible and suitable persons to come forward to adorn the Peetham.

The Court deliberately has left the roadmap for selection to the wisdom of the Sthalattars. It has not prescribed  a detailed procedure or interfere with their traditional decision-making authority  but has fixed an   outer time limit of six months for concluding the process. If the Sthalattars fail to discharge their responsibility, the Court will not hesitate to exercise its parens patriae jurisdiction. The judges specifically mentioned  that they have in mind certain eminent Vaishnavite saints whose services could be enlisted.

The Court has categorically directed that the selected  Jeeyar is to be  housed in what is known as Cheran Mutt, within the temple campus & has a right to be maintained out of the income of the Mutt.  The Court has recognized  that the office must be accompanied by the necessary residential and financial support to enable the Jeeyar to discharge his functions. Finally, the writ petition stands  allowed on these terms, with no order as to costs

I consider this a particularly significant judgment for the Srirangam temple and the Sri Vaishnava religious tradition. Some aspects of note that stand-out are : 

·        The  recognition of the Jeeyar's traditional position by the Court in so many words that   Jeeyar is not just another religious dignitary. He has a distinct place in the traditional institutional structure of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.

·        The clear  limitation on governmental interference. The distinction between selection, approval and acknowledgment is perhaps the strongest legal contribution of the judgment. The HR & CE Department cannot take over the religious function of selecting the Jeeyar by invoking its administrative authority.

·        Court assertion that Jeeyar the Peedathipathi of a Mutt   is a servant of the deity and cannot be reduced to the status of a temple employee.

It captures the underlying philosophy of the judgment: administration must respect the religious character of the institution, rather than attempt to control every aspect of its functioning through governmental machinery. For Srirangam, this is not merely a judgment about filling a vacant Peetham. It is a judicial reaffirmation of the traditional institutional arrangement associated with Sri Ramanujacharya and the religious administration of Thiruvarangam Periya Kovil of Sri Ranganathar.

Look forward to your views and if you feel something is overtly wrong in my understanding please do correct me with your feedback.  Before concluding  I am compelled to record my  appreciations and some words about the Petitioner.

It is my fortune that few years ago, met this young and energetic person, whose thoughts, actions and kainkaryam is at a different level – some other stratosphere – doing kainkaryam understanding the maintenance of Samprathayam,  service, taking care of injured cows and bulls, spreading our sampradhayam through books and propaganda – ensuring that youngsters are initiated to Sanathana dharma.  Pracharam is his initiative.   

He was good in Academics – studied  Diploma In Electrical & Electronics Engineering at Seshasayee Institute of Technology, Trichy in 2007; then Electrical System Design at University of Wales Institute, Cardiff; Engineering and Technology Management at Texas State University – like thousands of youth worked in USA; then unlike most others yearning for Green card – had a great transformation   inspired by the teachings of Sri. Velukkudi Krishnan Swami.   Through the Gitasaaram discourse,  learnt that  sharing Krishna's words is one of the most cherished forms of service.  Now he is  deeply immersed in the world of kainkaryam.  .. .. and he solely pursued the matter of appointment of Jeeyar with authorities, forcefully had the case argued in Court and now has got us all a very good, desired judgement.

Poliga, poliga, poliga – the rare breed of kainkaryabarargal like him.

adiyen Srinivasadhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
8.11.2026